ew Page 1283 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Michigan State, Michigan meet with Big Ten lead on the line
If Michigan State and Michigan weren't rivals, this would already be big enough of a deal. But since they are heated foes, it only makes the Big Ten's biggest game of the season to date even more intense as the two meet for the first time this season on Friday night in Ann Arbor.,The game will be fo...

Spurs battle Suns in Durant’s first return to Austin as a professional
The San Antonio Spurs will be the de facto home team when they square off against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday in Austin, Texas, but they won't have the game's most popular player in their huddle.,That's because the contest will be a homecoming for the Suns' Kevin Durant. It will mark the first time...

Marquette shoots for ninth straight win over Villanova
Following a rough stretch to begin February, No. 16 Marquette appears to have stabilized heading into Friday's Big East matchup at Villanova.,The Golden Eagles (20-6, 11-4 Big East) are trending toward a prominent seed in next month's NCAA Tournament, though things looked a bit shaky earlier this mo...

Refreshed Clippers, Bucks eager to make playoff push
After a much-needed All-Star break for both teams, the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks believe they're well-positioned for the final stretch of the regular season. ,Los Angeles holds the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, while the Bucks are fifth in the East.,Both teams hope to...

Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (illness) doubtful vs. Suns
San Antonio All-Star center Victor Wembanyama is listed as doubtful because of illness for the Spurs' game Thursday against the Phoenix Suns in Austin, Texas.,Wembanyama, 21, is averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals and a league-high 3.8 blocks in starting all 46 games he has played this ...

Knicks come out of break with confidence against sliding Bulls
The New York Knicks prepared for their challenging schedule following the All-Star Break in about the only way a blue-collar team could do so: By playing their longest game of the season.,The Knicks will begin their playoff push Thursday night, when they host the Chicago Bulls as both teams return f...

Hornets' Mark Williams sure he didn't fail physical in rescinded trade
Just hours before the Charlotte Hornets visited the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, Mark Williams remained miffed.,The Charlotte center was dealt to the Lakers prior to the trade deadline before Los Angeles rescinded the deal 48 hours later, apparently due to issues pertaining with Williams' ...

Seeking win to boost NCAA chances, Ohio State welcomes Northwestern
Looking ahead. That's all Ohio State can do as the Buckeyes seek to rebound from a loss to rival Michigan when they host Northwestern on Thursday.,The Buckeyes (15-11, 7-8 Big Ten) hoped a victory over the then-No. 20 Wolverines on Sunday would fortify their bid to make the NCAA Tournament for the f...

Jake Knapp's everywhere at the Mexico Open and eager to repeat
Jake Knapp is seeing himself everywhere. The airport. The hotel. Obviously, the golf course.,Knapp's image is plastered everywhere at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld in Vallarta, Mexico, where he will begin the defense of his first PGA Tour title Thursday.,"Usually you know who won the year before a...

U.S., Canada square off again in 4 Nations Face-Off title bout
BOSTON -- With apologies to Finland and Sweden, this is what most everyone wanted.,The championship of the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off will come down to a United States-Canada rematch on Thursday night.,U.S. coach Mike Sullivan, a Massachusetts native, knows that this "great hockey city" will be a...

Cavaliers ride latest win streak into meeting with Nets
A significant measure of how the regular season is unfolding for the Cleveland Cavaliers is that they can talk about pursuing other trophies after Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley teamed up to win the All-Star skills competition.,After a season-opening 15-game winning streak and another 12-game run,...

Patriots release LB Sione Takitaki
The New England Patriots released six-year veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki on Wednesday after his lone season with the team.,Takitaki, 29, played in 11 games (four starts) and totaled 21 tackles. He has 289 career tackles with four sacks, 14 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, two intercepti...

Clinton Portis joins DeSean Jackson's Delaware State coaching staff
Former All-Pro running back Clinton Portis joined the Delaware State coaching staff of DeSean Jackson. ,Portis played nine seasons in the NFL with the Washington franchise and Denver Broncos, who traded the 2002 Rookie of the Year for cornerback Champ Bailey after two seasons. ,Portis, 43, compile...

Magic 'rejuvenated' entering critical clash with Hawks
There's a good chance the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic are going to be muscling with each other for playoff position over the final eight weeks of the season. ,That makes head-to-head matchups, like the one scheduled for Thursday in Atlanta, even more important.,The teams are neck-and-neck in the...

Celtics G Jrue Holiday eyeing return vs. 76ers
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday will be available for a meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night after missing the past four games due to a shoulder injury.,Holiday last played on Feb. 4, when he had six points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals in a 112-105 win over the Clevela...

Yankees top pitching prospect Chase Hampton (UCL) sent to NY
Yankees prospect Chase Hampton is dealing with a right flexor strain and a right ulnar collateral ligament issue in his pitching arm and had to be sent to New York for testing, manager Aaron Boone told reporters Wednesday. ,Hampton left the team's spring training facility in Tampa, Fla., after feeli...

Wisconsin gives coach Luke Fickell contract extension
Wisconsin announced Wednesday that head coach Luke Fickell was given a one-year contract extension through 2032. ,Financial terms were not disclosed by the school. Fickell's previous deal kept him with the program through 2031. He made $7.7 million this past season, fifth-highest in the Big Ten. ,Fi...

Report: NBA ASG ratings plumment to 2nd lowest in history
Trying out a new format for the NBA All-Star Game apparently didn't sit well with the masses, with this year's edition of the event bringing in the second-fewest average viewers, Front Office Sports reported Wednesday. ,Only the 2023 All-Star Game averaged less viewers (4.6 million) than the 4.7 mil...

Nationals sign RHP Lucas Sims to 1-year deal
The Washington Nationals signed veteran right-hander Lucas Sims to a one-year deal on Wednesday. ,Terms were not released by the team but The Washington Post said it's worth $3 million. ,"His fastball's up in the mid-to-upper 90s, his slider's really, really effective," Nationals manager Dave Martin...

Pacers get thrown right into fire after break, host Grizzlies
There will be no easing back into action after the All-Star break for the Indiana Pacers when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night in Indianapolis.,Indiana coach Rick Carlisle knows his squad will need to be switched to on from the opening tip against one of the league's most dangerous ...